Transforming history – how we created our home away from home
The Maltings has been part of the North Norfolk landscape for generations. It’s now got a new lease of life…
“The Grain Store has undergone the largest single transformation, whilst still retaining all the impressive light and height that impressed William Bolding”
It might be a new place to stay, eat and drink in North Norfolk, but The Maltings has been in Weybourne for centuries. Its distinctive cluster of flint cottages, barns and the house – which dates from the 16th century – have been restored and reimagined to create a very 21st century destination.
As its name suggests, The Maltings was once used for malting barley for beer production. It later became a village pub and one-time owner William Bolding (1815-1899) then paved the way for a very different use. He was a publican who managed around 20 establishments across the county as well as a brewery and a watermill in Weybourne. But he was also a photographer who captured some of the earliest images of North Norfolk people and places. He used the spacious grain barn – now The Grain Store restaurant – to develop his photographs.
In 1897 William Bolding sold the business and 13 other pubs to Steward & Patteson, the Norwich brewers. Over time the complex passed in and out of different ownership. As it did, some of the cottages and barns fell into disrepair. But in 2022, 125 years after William Bolding sold the business, it was bought by new owners, Chestnut Group, with a clear vision. The rescue and repair plan began.
The 28-bedrooms, spread across the Main House, the old Stables, and the Cottages, are each individually designed, working with the original quirks of the house. Flint and cornice work as well as marble tiles have been uncovered and restored. Features have been accentuated and odd shaped rooms and interesting corners remain, but they sit alongside modern bathrooms and furnishings. There are cosy rooms for a romantic getaway as well as larger rooms for all the family.
But it is the Grain Store that has undergone the largest single transformation, whilst still retaining all the impressive light and height that impressed William Bolding. The double-height restaurant has an open kitchen, a private dining room, and plenty of space to cater for diners throughout the day.
In many ways, the entrepreneurial outlook of William Bolding has inspired The Maltings of today – his ability to see the benefits of the light-filled barn, his creative interests, and his business sense, foretold the new chapter in The Maltings’ history. The newly named Bolding Bar is a constant reminder of his influence and legacy.